Rod Wave
Born: 27 August 1998
Age:
Years Active: 2016–present
Genre/s: R&B, soul, trap
Label/s: Alamo, Geffen, Interscope, Hit House
Rodarius Marcell Green (born August 27, 1998), known professionally as Rod Wave, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Signed to Alamo Records, Green is known for his strong voice and incorporation of hip hop and R&B, having been recognized as a pioneer of "trap-soul." Green rose to prominence with his 2019 single "Heart on Ice," which first went viral on TikTok before peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song preceded his debut studio album, Ghetto Gospel (2019), which peaked at number ten on the US Billboard 200. His second album, Pray 4 Love (2020), peaked at number two on the chart and included the song "Rags2Riches" (remixed featuring Lil Baby), which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
His third, fourth, and fifth studio albums: SoulFly (2021), Beautiful Mind (2022), and Nostalgia (2023), each debuted atop the Billboard 200 and received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The latter spent multiple weeks at the position, while the former spawned his highest-charting singles, "Street Runner" and "Tombstone"—both of which peaked within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Along with critical praise for his soulful delivery and lyrics, Green's commercial success matched the numbers of Taylor Swift as the only musical act to release a new chart-topping solo album within each of the previous three years. Green's sixth studio album, Last Lap (2024), debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, marking Green's seventh consecutive top ten album, and making him the only male artist to release a top ten album each year from 2019 to 2024.
Green has sold 65 million digital copies in the United States, ranking him among the highest certified artists in the United States. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award, an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, and an iHeartRadio Music Award. Green's Nostalgia was listed among the top-earning projects released through Sony Music.